Free Spirit offers a therapeutic gap year or a one-semester experience (starting September or January), designed for Young Adults, ages 18-24.
We designed the ideal gap year experience, transitioning young adults from more structure and support to greater independence and self-reliance. Our participants are seeking a successful transition into young adulthood without missing out on fun, real-world experiences.
Who will Free Spirit gap year work for?
- Recent high school graduates who need time and support to transition to independent living
- College students who want to step back, re-set, and re-establish a sense of confidence and purpose
- Teens graduating from residential programs who need guidance in transitioning away from structured environments into independent life
- 18-24 year-olds who wish to experience the world while figuring out who they are and what they want out of life
What happens during a Free Spirit gap year?
Throughout the year, participants alternate between our main campus on a kibbutz in Israel and various facilities and internships around Israel and Italy. The core components of the program are:
- Community-based living with diverse intercultural encounters
- Individualized strength-based programming, addressing one's interests and needs
- Guided group dynamics that encourages social engagement and participation
- International travel in Israel, Cyprus, and Italy with a focus on arts, history, food, sailing, camping, and other outdoor activities
- Volunteering and internship opportunities in Israel and Italy
- Collaborations with Education Consultants for college preparations?
Free Spirit's gap year program was transformative for my son. I knew it would be important for him to have a lot of autonomy, though I wanted to be sure he had ample scaffolding as well. The kibbutz setting was an ideal place for him to "change by choice." Surrounded by incredibly supportive, insightful, compassionate counselors, he was able to untangle the anxiety, opposition, substance abuse, and risky behavior that had been plaguing him before he went. He learned how to be a caring member of a community, and how to make smart choices-skills that have served him well ever since. It was exactly the re-set and shoring up of skills that he needed, and the incredible Free Spirit team have stayed in close touch with our family. They truly care.